K1 Speed, long a Southern California hangout for weekend and lunch-break racers, is expanding their indoor electric karting empire. Co-founded by 24 Hours of Daytona winner Boris Said in 2003, K1 has since expanded from Southern California as far as Seattle and Florida. The company recently announced the acquisition of Race Place Motorsports, Inc. in Sacramento, which will further increase their reach. RPM's fleet of gas-powered karts will have to go, they'll be replaced by K1's preferred 20hp electric karts. The addition of RPM's 74,000 square-foot indoor kart racing facility will make for the 13th K1 location nationwide.

While some might miss the hammering of a Briggs and Stratton engine under their elbow, the electric karting experience can provide an equally visceral experience. With essentially 100% of the kart's torque available at any time, any excess throttle in the corners and subsequent understeer can be heard as well as felt. It's a great way to figure out the dynamics of the kart. Add a cleaner and quieter indoor raceway to computer controlled and virtually identical electric motors and the internal combustion way of doing things starts to look a little dated. That's bad news if you love percussive four-strokes, good news if you love good racing, and even better news if K1's empire is expanding near you.